Humidifier



July 2, 1935. J. c. CAIRNCROSS HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 [71 Van/ 02 JIMEJ C. CA/ENCEOSJ flrroelvsv m July 2, 1935.

J. c. CAIRNCROSS HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1952 6 Sheets+$heet 2 'July 2, 1935. J. g. 'cAlRNcRoss HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fvMEJCdq/zA/czoss July 2, 1935. J. c. CAIRNCROSS HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1 932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 n F nN 9 WK Mm Z T H m M E MW July 2, 1935. J. c. CAIRNCROSS HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1932 ljllflll' 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 WWW I47- TOENEKY' July 2, 1935. J. c. CAIRNCROSS HUMIDIFIER Filed July 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 00., Minneapolis,

Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application July 11, 1932, Serial No. 621,947

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in humidifying devices and has, among its objects to provide a very simple construction which can be easily assembled; to provide a device in which a central vertically disposed air well passes upwardly through or forms a wall for a water reservoir, and in which the air intake point is near the floor; to provide a pump well arranged centrally of and within the air well and to support this pump well by tubes or conduits which feed water from the reservoir to the well; to provide a simple form of centrifugal pump; to utilize the pump barrel as a mount for a draft fan and atomizer; to cause the pump to discharge centrifugally at a level above the fan; to provide means whereby the centrifugal discharge is caused to form two horizontal water films; to atomize at a level above the fan; to provide a motor connected with the pump tube above the fan and film-forming means; to connect the unit, including the motor, by means of the motor to the air well; to provide means within the connection for reducing transmission of vibration to the air well casing andmain casing of the 23 device to a minimum and thus eliminate noise;

to provide means for splitting and further atomizing the double films formed by centrifugal action; to provide means for filling the reservoir, which means is associated with handles for lifting the same, and which acts-as an indicator of that water level of the device upon which the maximum lifting power of the pump is dependent; to provide means for directing the atomized liquid outwardly from the main easing into the 3 room; to use a ring to mount the pump and spraying unit on the casing which forms the air shaft; to use a wedge-shaped ring for increasing the atomizing effects; and to use an air conditioning or cooling coil, with or without humidifier action, and to arrange the coil in or in opposition to the air shaft, at the lowermost part of the system, and so as not to be unsightly.

Features include all the details of construction shown, as well as the broader ideas of means inherent in the disclosure.

Certain objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the drawings'forming a part of this application, and in said drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a humidifier with parts broken away to illustrate the water gauge and filler opening;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan-section on line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the atomizer-cup in plan and the pum tube in section;

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section of the pump and atomizer cup;

Figure 5 is a plan section on line 55 of Figure 5 2, illustrating the water supply connection from the reservoir to the pump well, and the relation of the cooling coils to the pump well;

Figure 6 is a plan further illustrating the arrangement of the filler and gauge opening to one 10 of the lifting handles;

Figure 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention, taken on line '|'I of F ure 8;

Figure 8 is a plan section on line 8-8 of Fig- 15 ure '7;

Figure 9 is a plan section on line 5-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a plan section on line Ill-10 of Figure '7;

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken on line lI-llof Figure9;

Figure l2'is a vertical section of another modified form of the invention;

Figure 13 is a plan section on line l3l3 of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on M-H of Figure 13.

Numeral I indicates a main casing, in this 111-, stance of rectangular configuration, having legs 2 of a height to permit suflicient free flow of air beneath the casing and toward the intake end of the air well, below described. The front wall of the casing is provided near the top with a grating 3 outwardly through which the atomized water is 5 delivered to the room. This casing acts as a. reservoir. A tubular element 4 forms a centrally arranged vertical air well, as well as one wall of the reservoir. Arranged centrally of this cylindrical air well is a cylindrical tube 5 which constitutes a pump well. The cross-sectional area of the pump well is small relative to that of the air well. The heights of the pump and air wells are substantially the same, and the heights of these wells are substantially less than the height of the main casing; Fluid supply communication between reservoir and pump well is established by diametrically arranged tubes 6 which act as sole supports for the well.

A feature of this invention relates to the atomizer unit, including a motor, a pump, a fan and an atomizer cup, the unit being suspended and detachably connected to the air well casing. The pump tube is centrally arranged with reference to the pump well and has its lower end screw 2|.

spaced upwardly from the bottom of the well.

- In the bottom of this tube (see Figure 4) is a plug 3 havinga'central intake orifice 9 communicating at a point above its bottom with radially arranged upwardly and. outwardly slanted openings in, which communicate with the interior of the tube through an annular space H formed by counterturning the plug or closure. This tube extends above the pump well (see Figure 2) and is detachably secured to the shaft l of a motor I, by means of a pin H. The motor forms the topmost element of the unit, and between the motor and over the air well, and adjacent its top, is arranged a fan 20 adapted to suck air up-' wardly through the well. The fan is adjustably attached to the pump tube 1, by means of a set Arranged above the fan is a coneshaped' atomizing means consisting, in this embodiment, of a tubular conical body or cup 25,

' upright extension 52,

.cured a spring 48, and to thetop having a hub 26 which is traversed by the pump tube 5. A set screw 21 adjustably secures the atomizer for rotation with the pump barrel, and this atomizer has an upwardly flared conical inner surface 30. The pump tube has radial openings 3| through which water is discharged into the cup.

The upper periphery of the cup or atomizer is horizontally flattened as at 35,.see Figures 3 and 4. The conical surface 30 merges into a second conical surface 36 to gradually bring the water film to the horizontal position as it rises, and to finally discharge it outwardly across the surfaces 35, as at A. The water is discharged at a second level B by the following means: The upper periphery of the cup is radially notched or grooved to provide flattened surfaces 31 which are at a level below the surfaces 35. These discharge levels are close to one another.

By the construction above described, the liquid is caused to travel up the conical walls of the cup and is discharged horizontally and centrifugally at two levels. The top diameter of the atomizer cup, its largest diameter, is, considerably less than the diameter of the fan and air well,

faces 4!, 42 of the ring, and is additionally atomized. Since 'all the atomizing action. substantially takes place above the fan, and in the path of draft, the atomized product is forced against the inclined surface of a baille plate 45, and is directed upwardly and outwardly toward and through the grating 3 and into the room.

Another feature of the invention relates to the very simple and inexpensive means for suspending-the unit in operative position, and for reducing to a minimum the transmission of vibration to the main casing. This'means includes a ring 46 which is slipped over the cylindrical air well casing and is suitably detachably held, as shown in Figure 3. Attached to and extending upwardly from the ring are fourrods- 41 which are bent inwardly. To the top of each rod is suitably seof each spring is secured a rod 50. Each rod 50 is bent inwardly as at 5| and each is further bent to provide an which is secured to a ring 53 detachably secured to the motor as by a set screw not shown. These rods, springs and rings form the .sole connection for suspending the atomizing unit in operative position. The unit can be quickly detached by slipping the ring upwardly and disengaging it from the air well casing.

The circuit for the motor has not been illustrated, but a rheostat is used to vary motor speed and correspondingly vary degree of atomization. It has been found by experiment that the-greatest centrifugal pumping efllciency is obtained when the water is maintained at a certain level. To this end, (and this is a feature of the invention) a filler passage is provided through which the water level can be observed from the outside of the main casing. In order that, this filler passage and level may not be unsightly, it is conveniently associated with one of the lifting handles for the main casing. To this end, a portion of the top wall of one of the handles 60, see Figure 1, is depressed and slanted downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of a gauge opening 6| of the casing, to provide a filler passage 53. A suitable lid 62, hinged as at 63, is provided to close the passage 53 at the top. When the water is at the proper level, it passes through the opening 6| into passage 33, to indicate that the water level in the pump well is proper to obtain the most efficient pumping action.

Another feature of the invention relates to the use of refrigeration coils across the bottom of the air well, and to this end the bottom of the air well casing l is extended below the bottom of the main casing as at 85. To this extension is attached a casing 66 having in-turned flange t1 defining an air intake opening and forming a ledge upon which refrigeration coils 63, of any preferred form, are supported in the intake path of the air. The intake and outlet ends 63, ll

of the coil pass through the wall of this casing 33 required during the summer season, it is advisable, under some conditions, and the present apparatus provides means whereby air may be cooled as it is sucked through the vertical air well, and whereby it is thereafter humidified and discharged into the room. When the cooling coils are used the sides of the well and, therefore, the water in contact therewith, is cooled somewhat, and in case of atomization, the water is cooled both during atomization and before it is delivered for atomization. It is evident that the device can be operated as an air cooler, without humidiflcation. I

The main casing is provided with a removable top I2. The baiile plate 43 is also removably arranged and is secured in operative position by screw I3. .The present device provides a very simple construction which can be very cheaply manufactured. The device is also particularly 'emcient because the air is drawn upwardly from the floor level through the water reservoir in a direct vertical path, and directly impinges two fllms of water in atomized condition, in addition to being The form of the invention shown in Figure 7 includes certain elements which are substantially. similar to the first form and such elements are referred to by thesame reference numerals as used for the first form. The general arrangement of the reservoir or main casing I. air well 4 and tube 8 is the same. However, the pump well I5, which is arrangedcentrally of the cylindrical air well or conduit, is square in cross-section, see Figure 10, and baflles I8 extend inwardly from the corners of the square in a direction corresponding to the diagonals. Their inner ends are bent as at 11. The baflies are for the purpose of substantially preventing the water at the outside of the pump tube 'I from moving therewith, which movement decreases the lifting power of the pump. Interposed betweenthe turned ends ll of the baflies and the pump tube 1, and spaced from both, is a cylindrical screen IB see also Figure 7. The height of this screen is substantially the same as the pump well I5 but, in this -instance, the top of the well is arranged below the level of the top of the outer wall of the air conduit 4 to permit the fan blades to extend downwardly into the air well. The top of the air well is in-turned as at 80. The screen 18 acts as a filter to reduce the amount of sediment drawn into the pump tube.

Referring to Figure 7: At the outer side of and surrounding the conduit 4 adjacent its top is arranged a downwardly convergent conical ring 8|, the upper rim of which is spaced well outwardly from the top rim of the casing 4. Portions of the lower edge of this element 8| are slightly spaced from the wall 4 to provide openings 82 through which water can pass to the reservoir.

As in the first form of the invention, the motor and the pump tube I, fan 20, and cup 25'are all supported by the shaft I5 of the motor I6, which is, in turn, supported on the wall 4. In this instance, however, the-wall has four lugs indicated at 88, see Figures 9 and 11, which extend radially,

and on each of these extensions 83 is placed an annular cushioning element 84. On top of these cushioning elements is laid a plate-like annulus 88, which circumseribes the casing 4 and lies within the conical element 8|.- Thumb nuts and screws secure the parts in operative position, as best" shown in Figure 11. The outer edge of the annulus 88 is spaced from the corresponding edge of the conical member 8| to permit water to drip downwardly into the conical member 8| from a spray-battling element later to be described; To the ring 86 are suitably attached four rods 81 which are bent inwardly and then again vertically and which have their upper ends attached to rings 88, in turn suitably clamped to the motor IS. The cushions 84 substantially prevent'transmission of motor vibration to the well. The pump tube is connected with the motor shaft IS substantially as in the first form, and the cup 25 is secured to the pump tube I in substantially the same position as in the first form of the invention, above the fan 20. However, in this instance, the fan lies partly within the well, as best shown in Figure '7, and the upper portion of each blade is given a more abrupt curvature than the other portion of the blade.

In this form of the invention, there is interposed between the fan and the cup 25 a disk 90, the outer diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the upper end of the conduit and greater than the outer diameter of th The outer ends of the fan blades are spaced from the inner side of the wall 4 of the conduit, and the arrangement is such that the air is sucked upwardly and is then baflied outwardly about the edge of the disk 90. The diameter of the disk 80 is less than the inner diameter of the annulus 83 and is also less than the inner diameter of a tubular rubber ring 9I attached to rods 81 in circumscribing opposition to and at about the level of the upper side of the cup 25, see Figures 7 and 8. This rubber tubing has within it a fiat metal reenforcing ring 93 and therubber ring is held by suitable clips 94. This ring is preferably arranged at such level that the liquid projected centrifugally from the top of the cup 25 impinges on the rubber tubing to reduce noise. To prevent impact of the centrifugally moving liquid against the wall of the casing I, a guard ring 95 isarranged ,circumscribingly at the outer side of the tubular ring 9|, and at the outer side of the rods 81 as shown, see Figure 8. This ring is of less diameter than the upper diameter of the conical member 8| and is so arranged that drippings from a liner screen '96 are received by the drip catch cone 8|. This screen 96 acts as a collector, and the water merely drips back into the reservoir. Each anti-noise device is a feature of the invention, and performs a valuable function.

Referring to Figure 8, cushion elements 91 of rubber are interposed between the screen 96 and rods 81, to secure the guard elements 95 and 96 in operative position. v

The tubular rubber ring 94 performs the double function of intercepting the spray to prevent direct impingement on the spatter and water-collecting ring 95 and serves also to further reduce vibration and noise. The clips 94 have set screws, and thus the assembly is adjustable on the rods 81. The upper edge of the cup is preferably at a level about mid-way between the extreme upper and lower surfaces of the rubber ring.

The relative positions of the fan, cup and disk 90 may be adjustably varied to obtain the exact efiects desired. The diameter of the disk 90 may also be varied and the relative diameters of the disk, of the inside diameter of the rubber ring, of the fan and of the well 4 may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The arrangement of the parts is such that a column of air generally indicated by the arrow, is projected upwardly through a substantially horizontal centrifugal film of water projected from the top of the cup 25.

It will be noted that in this case the entire spraying, pumping, vibration-reduction, noise-reducing and drip-returning elements are supported from'the casing 4.

In this form of the invention, a filler tube for the reservoir is arranged at one corner of the casing I, see Figures 7 and 8. In this way, filling can be accomplished without danger of water passing through the air conduit. The lid IN is provided with moisture exit slots I02 in juxtaposition to which is arranged a screen I03 as a kind of air filter and a breaker-up of moisture. The lid closes against a suitable annular cushion element I04. The lid is provided with an extension I05 having a hook I08 which engages over the edge I01 of an opening in the top of the easing I to hold the lid IOI open, as shown in the dotted lines. A

The adjustment of the. film-intercepting cushion ring is critical to the extent that it must be so adjusted with respect to the spray cup 25 as to be impinged by the liquid film for silencing purposes.

The drip screen may be considered as a waterladen screen acting as a deflector. The disk above the fan directs the air in a cylindrical column whose inside diameter is substantially greater than the outside diameter of the motor. This results in a reduction of moisture precipitation on the motor, which is a valuable feature.

An important feature of the modification shown in Figures 12 to 14 is the provision of the atomizing ring indicated at I I0. This ring is at present made of metal and is provided interiorly with teeth which, in this instance, have the form of a closely spaced series of knife-edges, with the edges arranged vertically. These edges are perpendicular to the plane of the water film, and are parallel with theline of draft of the suction fan.

The inner diameter of the ring is greater than the outer diameter of the air well casing 4, and its lower side lies above and close to the top of the casing. Within this ring and attached to and rotative with the pump tube I directly above the fan 20, is a flat horizontally arranged disk I I2 suitably secured to the pump tube. The pump tube in this instance is provided with a series of projecting pipes or nipples H3, having their outer ends cut at an angle indicated at II4, to facilitate centrifugal delivery of water. These nipples are so arranged, see Figure 12, as'to centrifugally deliver water across the plate II2 to produce a horizontal film of water above the air passage and fan, and to throw this film of water against the atomizing ring III]. The outer diameter of the plate is less than the inner diameter of the ring, to provide a circular passage upwardly through which the air is blown. The atomizing.

means IIII thus circ'umscribes the film-forming means, and is so arranged that the water of the centrifugally produced film splatters against it. This is a valuable feature.

Another feature of this form of the invention is the manner of supporting the atomizing ring II 0 and the pumping unit including the motor to reduce to a minimum the transmission of motor vibration or pumping unit vibration to the casing I. To this end, there are four wire arms II5 attached to the motor by means of rings 88. The lower ends of these arms I I5 are threaded as at- I I6, see Figure 14. Attached to the wall of the casing and horizontally at a level slightly below the upper end of the air well 4, is a catch and drip pan indicated at I". This pan has an opening II 8 upwardly loosely through which the air well casing 4 extends. The edge of this opening is bent downwardly as at IISI to direct drippings downwardly into the supply water of the casing I. This pan extends from wall to wall of the casing in one direction, but does not so extend in the opposite direction, and those edges of the plate which are opposed to but spaced from the corresponding walls of the casing I are up-turned as at I20 Mounted in openings I2I of the pan IIIare tubular rubber elements I25 suitably-secured in the manner shown in Figure 14 and extending upwardly to a point above the level of the top of the air well casing 4. Each tubular element has a circumferential groove which receives th margin of the corresponding opening I 2I The lower ends of each arm I5 is provided with a bushing I25 which fits the bore of the corresponding tubular element I25. The atomizing or splatter ring III) is provided with lugs I23 and each is traversed by a corresponding lug II5. Jamb nuts I29 are provided to vertically adjust the ring with reference to th'e'film aziire'ctim plate II2. As shown in the drawings, the lower end of the ring rests against the upper surfaces of the tubular rubber elements I25. In this way, any vibration resultant from the operation of the device is largely absorbed by the rubber elements I25 so that very little, if any. vibration is carried to the walls of the casing I.

- Another feature of the invention relates to the arrangement and construction of the lid of casing I. This lid is indicated at I35 and one end is pivoted as at I36 to the top I31 of the casing I. The top of the casing is provided with an opening having a down-turned flange I38, that portion I39 of the flange nearest the pivot I35 being slanted downwardly and toward the corresponding casing wall as shown. The lid has an inwardly and downwardly directed flange I40. The pivotal point; I36 is so located that when the door is related to it as a lever to its pivot, and thus the door is open, there can be no escape of moisture (which may be on its under surface MD to the outerside of the cabinet or casing I. The lid or door is punched to provide a grating I42 through which the moisture for humidification escapes and the screen I44 is provided below the grating as a breaker-up of moisture and as an air filter.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reservoir having a discharge opening in its upper portion for atomized water, an air well casing leading upwardly through the bottom of the reservoir, a pump well within and spaced from the air well, meansestablishing a water supply connection with the pump well, a centrifugal pump including a tube rotatable in the pump well, a motor having a shaft to which the pump tube is operatively suspended, means by which the motor is detachably and operably secured within the reservoir and to the air well casing, means carried by the pump tube and arranged over the air well to create an up-draft through the air well and means adapted to receive water delivered by the pump and atomize and deliver the means establishing a water supply connection with the pump well, a centrifugal pump including a tube rotatable in the pump well, a motor having a shaft to which the pump tube is operatively suspended, means by which the motor is operative-. ly secured within the reservoir, means carriedby the pump tube and arranged to create an up-draft through the air well, and means adapted to receive water delivered by the pump and ato'mize and deliver the same across the line of draft, and baiiie means detachably arranged above the motor-and adapted to direct atomized products to the delivery opening of the reservoir.

3. A reservoir having at its top a discharge opening for atomized water, and having an air well casing therein leading upwardly through its bottom, a pump well within and spaced from the wall of the air well, tubes supporting the pump well in' operative position and establishing a water supply connection, with the reservoir, a

centrifugal pump including a tube rotatable in 16 the pump well, a sprayer cup attached to the tube and arranged above the pump and air wells, said pump having passages discharging into the cup, said cup being formed to generate by centrifugal action an atomized film of water, a motor attached to the pump tube, and means detabhably connecting the motor with the air well to suspend the unit, and a fan attached to the pump tube and arranged over said air well and pump well, and below said atomizing cup, and adapted to create an up-draft which moves the atomized water upwardly.

4. A reservoir, a vertical air conduit passing upwardly through the bottom of the reservoir, a pump well surrounded by the air conduit, a pumping element arranged within the well, means carried by the pumping element for creating an updraft through the conduit, means above the draftcreating means for deflecting the upwardly drawn air after it passes the fan, means above the defiector and moving with the pump element for projecting a film of liquid across the path of the forced air, a motor above said last mentioned ele-' ment operating said pump element, means forming the sole support of the motor and elements operated thereby, said means being attached to said air conduit, and means carried by the motor-supporting means for limiting the degree of projection of the film, and as a screen and water collector arranged to return collected liquid to the reservoir.

i 5. A casing having an air conduit, a pump well, a motor having attached to its shaft a pump element operating in the pump well, means on the pump element for centrifugally producing a film of water over the air conduit, and a ring circumscribing and opposed to the film producing means and having knife-edge projections in the plane of the film and adapted to be impinged by the water of the centrlfugally produced film.

6. A casing having an air conduit, a pump well within the conduit, a motor having attached to its shaft a pump element operating in the pump well, means on the pump element for centrifugally producing a film of water above the air conduit, means for supporting the motor including means for reducing the transfer of vibrations to the easing, and a splatter ring mounted on said supporting means and circumscribing and opposed to the film producing means and adapted to be impinged by the water of the centrifugally produced film.

' 7. A casing having an air conduit leading from and through its bottom to a point within it, a secondtubular pump well casing within the conduit, a motor above the casing having attached to its shaft a pump element which operates in the pump well casing, means on the pump element for centrifugally producing a film of water above the air conduit, supporting means for the motor and extending downwardly from it, anti-vibration-conducting means supporting the last mentioned means and atomizing means carried by the motor supporting means, and opposed to the filmproducing means, so that the water of the centrifugally produced film impinges it.

8. A casing having a tubular element forming an air conduit leading upwardly from and through its bottom to a point within it, a second tubular element as a pump'well within the first tubular element and of less cross-sectional area to maintain an air intake passage surrounding the well, a motor above the conduit and well having attached to its shaft a pump element'which operates in the pump well, means on the pump element between the motor and air well for cenrifugally producing a horizontal film of water above the air conduit, means for supporting the motor and extending downwardly from it, and

atomizing means carried by the motor supporting means and opposed to the film-producing means, so that the water of the centrifugally produced film impinges it.

9. A casing having a tubular element forming an air conduit leading upwardly from and through its bottom to a point within it, a second tubular element as a pump well within the first tubular element and of less cross-sectional area to maintain an air intake passage surrounding the well, a motor above the conduit and well having attached to its shaft a pump element which operates in the pump well, means on the pump element for centrifugally producing a horizontal film of water over the air conduit, said pump element having openings through which liquid is delivered to the upper side of said film-producing means, means for supporting the motor, and atomizing means carried by the motor supporting means and circumscribing the film-producing means to be impinged by the water of the centrifugally produced film.

10. A reservoir, a vertical air well, a pump well within the air well, means establishing a water supply connection between the pump well and the 1 air well across the air well, a centrifugal pump including a tube rotatable in the pump well, a motor above the wells having a shaft by which the tube is operably suspended, means by which the motor is supported within the reservoir, means carried by the pump tube at a level above the air and pump wells to create an up-draft in a direction axially through the air well and means above the draft-creating means for receiving water delivered by the pump and adapted to atomize and deliver the same in a horizontal film across the line of draft, and a disk arranged between the draftproducing and atomizing means andbeing of a greater diameter than the diameter of the air well, andacting to intercept and then outwardly spread the air as it rises to meet the water film.

11. A device of the class described having an air conduit, a pump well, a pumping element in the well, means for forcing air axially through the conduit, means above the air forcing means for projecting a film of liquid horizontally across the path of forced air and common means for simultaneously operating the pumping element, air-forcing means and film-projecting means including a motor, and supporting means therefor removably socketed in stationary elements of elastic material, and a solid ring held by said motor supporting means and circumscribing said film projecting means, the inner surface of said ring having knife edge corrugations.

12. A reservoir, a vertical air well leading upwardly through the bottom of the reservoir, a pump well within and spaced from the air well, means establishing a water supply connection with the pump well, and acting to support the pump well, a centrifugal pump including a tube rotatable in the pump well and extending above the pump and air wells, a fan attached to the tube immediately adjacent the top of the air well and of a diameter less than the inner diameter of the air well, means attached to the pump tube above the fan and upon the upper side of which water is delivered from the tube to be spread horizontally by centrifugal action, a splatter ring circumscribing the last mentioned means and against which the water is thrown by centrifugal action, the ring being so placed that surplus water is delivered therefrom by gravity into said reservoir, a motor, and a connection by which it drives the tube, and a plate interposed between said fan and water-spreading means and of a diameter greater than that of the air well, greater than that of the fan and less than that of the inner diameter of said splatter ring, and of said water spreading means.

13. A device of the class described having a casing forming a. water reservoir, an air conduit, a pump well passing through said conduit and in communication with the water supply of the reservoir, a rotative pumping element in the well, means on said pumping element for forcing air through the air conduit, means also on the pumping element for projecting a film of liquid furnished by the pump horizontally across the path of the forced air, a motor having a shaft from which said pumping element is suspended, tubes of cushioning material each stationarily held in a manner to provide an upwardly projecting laterally bendable portion, and means connecting the motor with the tubes including projections, one snugly socketed in each tube to prevent lateral motion of the motor except that allowed by the resiliency and bendability of said cushioning tubes.

14. A device of the class described having a casing forming a water reservoir, an air conduit, a pump well passing through said conduit and in communication with the water supply of the reservoir, a rotative pumping element in the well, a stationary screen interposed between said element and the inner wall of the well and surrounding said pumping element, spaced baflies within and extending from the inner surface of said well inwardly toward and ending close to the screen, means on said pumping element for forcing air through the air conduit, means also on the pumping element for projecting a film of liquid furnished by the pump horizontally across the path of the forced air, a motor having a shaft from which said pumping element is suspended, and means substantially stationarily securing said motor.

and the inner wall of the well, and surrounding said pumping element, pairs of diametrically related bailles within and extending from the inner 1 surface of said well inwardly toward and ending close to the screen, means on said pumping element for forcing air through the air conduit, means also on the pumping element for projecting a film of liquid furnished by the pump horizontally across the path of the forced air, a motor having a shaft from which said pumping element is suspended, and means substantially stationarily securing said motor.

16. A device of the class described having a casing forming a water reservoir, an air conduit, a pump well passing through said conduit and in communication with the water supply of the reservoir, a rotative pumping element in the well, a stationary screen interposed between said element and the inner wall of the well and surrounding said pumping element, pairs of diametrically related baflle elements extending from the inner surface of the well inwardly toward and ending close to the screen, means on said pumping element for forcing air through the air conduit, means also on the pumping element for projecting a film of liquid furnished by the pump horizontally across the path of the forced air, a motor having a shaft from which said pumping element is suspended, tubes of cushioning material, each stationarily held in a manner to provide an upwardly projecting laterally bendable portion, and means connecting the motor with the tubes including projections one snugly socketed in each tube to prevent lateral motion of the motor except that allowed by resiliency andbendability of said cushioning tubes.

JAMES C. CAIRNCROSS. 

